Grades were a challenge this week, because I'm never sure how much my grade should punish for the first half and reward for the second. (Maybe some teachers can help me out with that). It was fun to watch, though. Auburn has had some nail-biters in three of its last four games going back to the bowl. I can't expect South Carolina to be much different.

OFFENSE: C+. Gus Malzahn's crew gained more than 400 yards, scored 27 points and beat what seems to be a very solid opponent. But three games into the season, there are still lingering questions about the Tigers' offensive identity that weren't adequately answered on Saturday. And while the second half was fun to watch, the first half struggles were ugly.

DEFENSE: B. The defense got little help from the offense in the first half, but kept the margin within a couple touchdowns in a game that could have gotten out of reach. There are still some worries in the secondary, and plenty to build on for South Carolina.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B. It's getting to be nerve-wracking watching Auburn return punts again, but Quindarius Carr held onto the ball every time. Wes Byrum nailed a high-pressure field goal that his counterpart on Clemson didn't. Ryan Shoemaker was shaky at times.

COACHING: B-. Kudos for the halftime adjustments, although even Gene Chizik said it had more to do with player execution -- well, that and God -- than coaching "magic." Auburn was lucky to survive the first half with only a 14-point deficit. It could have been worse, and the third quarter turnaround too little, too late.

OVERALL: B. For the second week in a row, Auburn pulled out a win at the wire. It's hard to imagine next week against South Carolina being any different. The Tigers still have plenty of issues to resolve, but it's easier to make those fixes when you're undefeated.